State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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90_SB0381eng

      705 ILCS 105/27.7 new
      705 ILCS 505/21           from Ch. 37, par. 439.21
      725 ILCS 5/122-4          from Ch. 38, par. 122-4
      730 ILCS 5/3-4-3          from Ch. 38, par. 1003-4-3
      730 ILCS 5/3-12-5         from Ch. 38, par. 1003-12-5
      735 ILCS 5/Art. XXII heading new
      735 ILCS 5/22-105 new
          Amends the Clerks of Court Act, the Court of Claims  Act,
      the  Code  of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Unified Code of
      Corrections, and the Code of Civil Procedure.  Provides  that
      if  a  prisoner  files certain frivolous lawsuits against the
      State, Illinois Department of Corrections,  or  the  Prisoner
      Review  Board  or against any of their officers or employees,
      the prisoner shall be responsible for paying for the costs of
      the lawsuit.  Provides for a deduction  from  the  prisoner's
      account to pay for these costs.  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9001056RCks
SB381 Engrossed                                LRB9001056RCks
 1        AN  ACT in relation to court costs for frivolous lawsuits
 2    filed by prisoners, amending named Acts.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section 5.  The Clerks of Courts Act is amended by adding
 6    Section 27.7 as follows:
 7        (705 ILCS 105/27.7 new)
 8        Sec. 27.7.  Frivolous lawsuits filed by prisoners.
 9        (a) The fees of the clerks of the circuit court shall not
10    be  waived  for a petitioner who is a prisoner in an Illinois
11    Department of Corrections  facility  who  files  a  pleading,
12    motion,  or  other paper in a lawsuit seeking post-conviction
13    relief under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of
14    1963 or a habeas corpus action under Article X of the Code of
15    Civil Procedure and the defendant is the State, the  Illinois
16    Department  of  Corrections,  or the Prisoner Review Board or
17    any of their officers or employees, and  the  court  makes  a
18    specific finding that the pleading, motion, or other paper is
19    frivolous.
20        (b)  "Frivolous"  means that a pleading, motion, or other
21    paper filed by a prisoner in his or her lawsuit does not meet
22    the following criteria:
23             (1)  it is not  being  presented  for  any  improper
24        purpose,  such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay
25        or needless increase in the cost of litigation;
26             (2)  the   claims,   defenses,   and   other   legal
27        contentions therein are warranted by existing law or by a
28        nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or
29        reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law;
30             (3)  the allegations and other  factual  contentions
31        have   evidentiary   support   or,   if  specifically  so
SB381 Engrossed             -2-                LRB9001056RCks
 1        identified, are likely to have evidentiary support  after
 2        a  reasonable  opportunity  for  further investigation or
 3        discovery; and
 4             (4)  the  denials   of   factual   contentions   are
 5        warranted   on   the  evidence  or,  if  specifically  so
 6        identified, are reasonably based on a lack of information
 7        or belief.
 8        Section 10.  The  Court  of  Claims  Act  is  amended  by
 9    changing Section 21 as follows:
10        (705 ILCS 505/21) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.21)
11        Sec.  21.  The  court is authorized to impose, by uniform
12    rules, a fee of $15 for the filing of a petition in any  case
13    in  which  the  award  sought  is more than $50 and less than
14    $1,000 and $35 in any case  in  which  the  award  sought  is
15    $1,000  or  more;  and  to  charge  and collect for copies of
16    opinions or other documents filed in the Court of Claims such
17    fees as may be prescribed by the rules of the Court. All fees
18    and charges so collected shall be  forthwith  paid  into  the
19    State Treasury. A petitioner who is a prisoner in an Illinois
20    Department  of  Corrections  facility  who  files a pleading,
21    motion, or  other  paper  against  the  State,  the  Illinois
22    Department  of Corrections, the Prisoner Review Board, or any
23    of their officers or employees in which  the  court  makes  a
24    specific  finding  that  it  is frivolous shall pay all court
25    costs in the manner provided in Article XXII of the  Code  of
26    Civil Procedure.
27    (Source: P.A. 83-865.)
28        Section  15.   The  Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
29    amended by changing Section 122-4 as follows:
30        (725 ILCS 5/122-4) (from Ch. 38, par. 122-4)
SB381 Engrossed             -3-                LRB9001056RCks
 1        Sec. 122-4. Pauper Petitions.  If  the  petition  is  not
 2    dismissed  pursuant  to Section 122-2.1, and alleges that the
 3    petitioner is unable to pay the costs of the proceeding,  the
 4    court  may  order that the petitioner be permitted to proceed
 5    as a poor person and order a transcript  of  the  proceedings
 6    delivered  to  petitioner  in  accordance  with  Rule  of the
 7    Supreme Court.  If the  petitioner  is  without  counsel  and
 8    alleges that he is without means to procure counsel, he shall
 9    state  whether  or  not  he wishes counsel to be appointed to
10    represent him.  If appointment of counsel  is  so  requested,
11    and  the  petition  is  not  dismissed  pursuant  to  Section
12    122-2.1,  the  court  shall appoint counsel if satisfied that
13    the petitioner has no means to procure counsel. A  petitioner
14    who  is  a  prisoner in an Illinois Department of Corrections
15    facility who files a pleading, motion, or other paper seeking
16    post-conviction relief under this Article against the  State,
17    the  Illinois  Department of Corrections, the Prisoner Review
18    Board, or any of their officers or  employees  in  which  the
19    court  makes a specific finding that the pleading, motion, or
20    other paper is frivolous shall not proceed as a  poor  person
21    and  shall  be  liable  for  the full payment of actual court
22    costs as provided in  Article  XXII  of  the  Code  of  Civil
23    Procedure.
24        A Circuit Court or the Illinois Supreme Court may appoint
25    the  State  Appellate  Defender  to  provide  post-conviction
26    representation  in a case in which the defendant is sentenced
27    to death.  Any attorney assigned by the Office of  the  State
28    Appellate  Defender to provide post-conviction representation
29    for indigent defendants in cases in which a sentence of death
30    was imposed in the trial court may, from time to time  submit
31    bills  and  time  sheets to the Office of the State Appellate
32    Defender for payment of services rendered and the  Office  of
33    the  State  Appellate  Defender  shall  pay  bills from funds
34    appropriated  for  this  purpose  in  accordance  with  rules
SB381 Engrossed             -4-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    promulgated by the State Appellate Defender.
 2        The court, at the  conclusion  of  the  proceedings  upon
 3    receipt  of  a  petition  by  the  appointed  counsel,  shall
 4    determine  a  reasonable  amount  to  be  allowed an indigent
 5    defendant's counsel other than the  Public  Defender  or  the
 6    State  Appellate  Defender for compensation and reimbursement
 7    of expenditures necessarily incurred in the proceedings.  The
 8    compensation shall not exceed $500 in each case, except that,
 9    in extraordinary circumstances,  payment  in  excess  of  the
10    limits herein stated may be made if the trial court certifies
11    that  the  payment  is necessary to provide fair compensation
12    for protracted representation, and the amount is approved  by
13    the  chief  judge  of  the circuit.  The court shall enter an
14    order directing the county treasurer of the county where  the
15    case  was  tried  to  pay  the  amount thereby allowed by the
16    court.  The court may order the provisional payment  of  sums
17    during the pendency of the cause.
18    (Source: P.A. 87-580.)
19        Section  20.   The Unified Code of Corrections is amended
20    by changing Sections 3-4-3 and 3-12-5 as follows:
21        (730 ILCS 5/3-4-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-4-3)
22        Sec. 3-4-3.  Funds and Property of Persons Committed.
23        (a)  The Department shall  establish  accounting  records
24    with accounts for each person who has or receives money while
25    in  an institution or facility of the Department and it shall
26    allow the withdrawal and disbursement of money by the  person
27    under  rules  and regulations of the Department. Any interest
28    or other income from moneys deposited with the Department  by
29    a  resident  of the Juvenile Division in excess of $200 shall
30    accrue to the individual's account, or in balances up to $200
31    shall  accrue  to  the  Residents'  Benefit  Fund.   For   an
32    individual  in  an  institution  or  facility  of  the  Adult
SB381 Engrossed             -5-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    Division  the interest shall accrue to the Residents' Benefit
 2    Fund.  The Department shall disburse all moneys  so  held  no
 3    later  than the person's final discharge from the Department.
 4    Moneys in the account of  a  committed  person  who  files  a
 5    lawsuit  determined  frivolous under Article XXII of the Code
 6    of Civil Procedure shall be deducted to pay for the  cost  of
 7    the  suit  as  provided in that Article. The Department shall
 8    under rules and regulations record and receipt  all  personal
 9    property  not  allowed  to  committed persons. The Department
10    shall return such property to the individual  no  later  than
11    the person's release on parole.
12        (b)  Any  money  held  in  accounts  of committed persons
13    separated  from  the  Department  by  death,  discharge,   or
14    unauthorized  absence  and  unclaimed  for a period of 1 year
15    thereafter by the person or his legal representative shall be
16    transmitted to the State Treasurer who shall deposit it  into
17    the  General  Revenue  Fund. Articles of personal property of
18    persons so separated may be sold or used by the Department if
19    unclaimed for a period  of  1  year  for  the  same  purpose.
20    Clothing,  if  unclaimed  within  30  days,  may  be  used or
21    disposed of as determined by the Department.
22        (c)  Profits on sales from  commissary  stores  shall  be
23    expended  by  the  Department  for  the  special  benefit  of
24    committed  persons  which shall include but not be limited to
25    the advancement of inmate payrolls, for the  special  benefit
26    of  employees,  and  for  the advancement or reimbursement of
27    employee travel, provided that amounts expended for employees
28    shall not exceed the amount of  profits  derived  from  sales
29    made  to employees by such commissaries, as determined by the
30    Department.
31        (d)  The Department  shall  confiscate  any  unauthorized
32    currency  found in the possession of a committed person.  The
33    Department shall transmit the  confiscated  currency  to  the
34    State Treasurer who shall deposit it into the General Revenue
SB381 Engrossed             -6-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    Fund.
 2    (Source: P.A. 89-689, eff. 12-31-96.)
 3        (730 ILCS 5/3-12-5) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-12-5)
 4        Sec.  3-12-5.  Compensation.   Persons  performing a work
 5    assignment under subsection (a) of Section 3-12-2 may receive
 6    wages  under rules and regulations  of  the  Department.   In
 7    determining  rates  of  compensation,  the  Department  shall
 8    consider  the  effort,  skill  and economic value of the work
 9    performed.    Compensation  may  be  given  to  persons   who
10    participate  in  other  programs  of  the Department.  Of the
11    compensation earned pursuant to this Section, a  portion,  as
12    determined  by  the  Department,  shall be used to offset the
13    cost  of  the  committed  person's  incarceration.   If   the
14    committed  person  files a lawsuit determined frivolous under
15    Article XXII of the Code of Civil Procedure, a portion of the
16    compensation shall be used to offset the cost of the  lawsuit
17    as  provided  in  that  Article.  All  other  wages  shall be
18    deposited  in  the  individual's  account  under  rules   and
19    regulations  of  the Department.  The Department shall notify
20    the Attorney General of any compensation  applied  towards  a
21    satisfaction,   in   whole   or  in  part,  of  the  person's
22    incarceration costs.
23    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94; 88-679, eff. 7-1-95.)
24        Section 25.  The Code of Civil Procedure  is  amended  by
25    adding Article XXII as follows:
26        (735 ILCS 5/Art. XXII heading new)
27         ARTICLE XXII. FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS FILED BY PRISONERS
28        (735 ILCS 5/22-105 new)
29        Sec. 22-105.  Frivolous lawsuits filed by prisoners.
30        (a)  If  a prisoner confined in an Illinois Department of
SB381 Engrossed             -7-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    Corrections facility files a pleading, motion, or other paper
 2    in a case seeking post-conviction relief under Article 122 of
 3    the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, habeas corpus  relief
 4    under  Article  X  of  this  Code, a claim under the Court of
 5    Claims Act, or other action against the State,  the  Illinois
 6    Department  of  Corrections, or the Prisoner Review Board, or
 7    against any of their officers  or  employees  and  the  Court
 8    makes  a specific finding that the pleading, motion, or other
 9    paper filed by the prisoner is  frivolous,  the  prisoner  is
10    responsible for the full payment of actual court costs.
11        On filing the action or proceeding the court shall assess
12    and,  when  funds  exist, collect as a partial payment of any
13    court costs required by law a  first  time  payment  of  20%.
14    Thereafter 20% of all deposits into the prisoner's individual
15    account  under  Sections 3-4-3 and 3-12-5 of the Unified Code
16    of Corrections administered by  the  Illinois  Department  of
17    Corrections  shall  be  withheld until the actual court costs
18    are collected in full.  The Department of  Corrections  shall
19    annually   forward  any  moneys  withheld  to  the  court  of
20    jurisdiction before January 31.  If a  prisoner  is  released
21    before  the  full  costs  are  collected,  the  Department of
22    Corrections shall  forward  the  amount  of  costs  collected
23    through  the  date  of release.  The court of jurisdiction is
24    responsible for sending the Department of Corrections a  copy
25    of  the  order mandating the amount of court fees to be paid.
26    Nothing in this Section prohibits an applicant from filing an
27    action or proceeding if the applicant is unable  to  pay  the
28    court costs.
29        (b)  In  this Section, "frivolous" means that a pleading,
30    motion, or other paper filed by a  prisoner  in  his  or  her
31    lawsuit does not meet the following criteria:
32             (A)  it  is  not  being  presented  for any improper
33        purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary  delay
34        or needless increase in the cost of litigation;
SB381 Engrossed             -8-                LRB9001056RCks
 1             (B)  the   claims,   defenses,   and   other   legal
 2        contentions therein are warranted by existing law or by a
 3        nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or
 4        reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law;
 5             (C)  the  allegations  and other factual contentions
 6        have  evidentiary  support   or,   if   specifically   so
 7        identified,  are likely to have evidentiary support after
 8        a reasonable opportunity  for  further  investigation  or
 9        discovery; and
10             (D)  the   denials   of   factual   contentions  are
11        warranted  on  the  evidence  or,  if   specifically   so
12        identified, are reasonably based on a lack of information
13        or belief.
14        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
15    becoming law.

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